Sen. Chris Rothfuss

Maddy summaryHB 113 establishes rules for electric utilities to enter special service agreements with large commercial or industrial customers using over 10 megawatts of electricity. The bill requires that such agreements must generate revenue exceeding the utility's cost to serve the customer, and must not shift related costs (like power supply or grid investments) to other ratepayers. Any profits or losses from these agreements remain with the utility company, not shared with other customers. The law applies only to agreements under tariffs approved by Wyoming's utility commission and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 292, the Wyoming Health Care Pricing Transparency Act, requires health insurers to provide aggregated claims data to large group purchasers of private health insurance plans (like employers with 50+ employees or multi-employer groups) twice yearly. This data includes costs for drugs, services, provider charges, and patient demographics, in searchable electronic format compliant with federal privacy laws. Insurers face $10,000 quarterly penalties for failing to provide the data, and strict rules prevent misuse or unauthorized disclosure of the information. The bill directly affects insurers, large employers buying group health plans, and healthcare providers whose costs are included in the data. It does not apply to government health programs like Medicaid or certain federally regulated employee benefit plans.

Maddy summaryHB 233 establishes Wyoming's first state income tax system. It imposes a 0% tax on the first $200,000 of taxable income and a 4% tax on amounts above that threshold. The bill creates administrative rules for the Department of Revenue to collect the tax, requiring taxpayers with over $200,000 in income to file annual returns (matching federal filing deadlines), while exempting those with $200,000 or less. Key provisions include confidentiality protections for tax returns, apportionment rules for multi-state income, and enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance. This bill, which died in committee in 2019, would have directly affected Wyoming residents and businesses earning taxable income.

Maddy summaryHB 234 would allow individuals convicted of marijuana-related felonies before July 1, 2019, to petition courts to reduce those convictions to misdemeanors if they completed time served equal to the new misdemeanor maximum. It directly affects people with past felony convictions for marijuana possession, use, or related offenses under Wyoming law. The bill creates a streamlined court process requiring no hearing for eligible petitions, and would restore civil rights lost due to those past felony convictions. It does not change current marijuana laws or penalties for future offenses, only addressing retroactive relief for pre-2019 convictions.

Maddy summaryHB 315 amends Wyoming's drug forfeiture law to exempt certain property from seizure and forfeiture. It specifically protects homesteads (per Wyoming's homestead laws), motor vehicles valued under $2,500, and cash amounts of $1,000 or less. The bill also prohibits seizing money, securities, or negotiable instruments solely based on possession without evidence of a drug law violation. These changes directly affect property owners and law enforcement by limiting when assets can be taken in drug-related cases. The bill was introduced in 2019 but did not advance beyond committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a system where people on probation or parole in Wyoming can earn credits for consistently complying with their supervision terms. For each full month they meet all conditions without violations or absconding, their probation or parole term is reduced by 30 days. Credits are lost if a violation report is filed, if they abscond (deliberately avoid supervision), or if their supervision is revoked. The Department of Corrections and Board of Parole must establish rules for implementing this system and notify individuals of their remaining supervision time.

Maddy summaryHB 133 creates the "Hathaway Expand Wyoming Scholarship" to provide financial aid to students from states bordering Wyoming (like Montana and Colorado) attending Wyoming colleges. To qualify, applicants must have a 3.75+ GPA, score in the top 4% nationally on standardized tests, and graduate from a rigorous high school curriculum in a contiguous state. The scholarship covers up to the cost of attendance (capped at University of Wyoming's trustee scholarship amount) but requires recipients to either work in Wyoming for one year per four semesters received or repay funds with interest (capped at 8%) if they don't meet academic requirements or leave Wyoming institutions. This expands eligibility beyond Wyoming residents while adding service and repayment conditions to ensure long-term benefits for the state.

Maddy summaryHB 104 requires all freight trains operated in Wyoming to have a minimum crew of two people, applying to trains moving freight but excluding hostler service or railroad utility employees. Violations result in fines starting at $250 for a first offense, increasing to $5,000-$10,000 for repeat offenses within three years. The law, effective July 1, 2019, directly affects railroad companies operating freight trains within Wyoming. It establishes specific penalties to enforce the crew size requirement without altering broader railroad operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends Wyoming's net metering rules to allow electric utilities to authorize customer-generators (like homeowners or businesses with solar/wind systems) to install net metering systems exceeding 25 kilowatts in capacity, which was previously capped. It updates the definition of "net metering system" in state law to remove the 25-kilowatt limit and explicitly permits larger systems under utility authorization. The key change enables customers with bigger renewable energy systems to connect to the grid and receive credit for excess power, expanding access beyond the prior size restriction. The bill takes effect July 1, 2019, without requiring additional legislative action for implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 149 creates a property tax credit for individuals who purchase and improve abandoned buildings in Wyoming cities or towns. It allows owners to claim a tax credit equal to their documented costs for rehabilitating designated abandoned properties, such as removing or repairing deteriorating structures. To qualify, owners must get city/town approval for expenses directly tied to the building and submit them to the state revenue department within five years of purchase. The credit is limited to actual improvement costs, cannot exceed the property's tax liability, and must be used within 10 years of eligibility. This policy directly affects property owners and local governments seeking to revitalize vacant, deteriorating buildings.